Apple Switching to Intel Based Proccesors

[Nathan]

Apple announced today at their WWDC (World Wide Developers Conference) that they would be switching to Intel based chips. For those not so computer savvy, that means that way more windows programs will run on a mac, but that mac will lose some of its benifits like uniqueness and such. I personally have mixed feelings. While I think it will great that more programs from the windows world will be available for mac, I think it sucks that mac is pulling away from the PowerPC architecture.

So what are your thoughts, if any, on the switch?

Slashdot article link: http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl...=179&tid=3

[bkelsey86]

totally sucks for all thsoe other people wanting to run new software or work with the new shit.

[permit]

It will greatly reduce costs of computers as well, which is a huge plus. It better do the company good, I got $2k invested... :?

[benDASHDASH]

I was considering getting an ibook or powerbook, but now I'm not so sure. I don't want my dang lappie outdated.

[h0lmes]

the switch wont happen till next year

[KenC]

I was considering getting an ibook or powerbook, but now I'm not so sure. I don't want my dang lappie outdated.

I'm still getting a decked out 12" Powerbook when I grad

[Nathan]

The switch will be gradual and should be completed by 2007. Apple has been secretly building both a version of OS X for PPC and x86 for awhile now. O and BTW Leopard will be the next incarnation of OS X.

[h0lmes]

I was considering getting an ibook or powerbook, but now I'm not so sure. I don't want my dang lappie outdated.

I'm still getting a decked out 12" Powerbook when I grad

Im getting one for graduation too. Ordered it last night along with a 30gig ipod photo.

[uofom3]

macs are used by something like 2% of the computing world. They look cool, but who cares what mac does unless all you do is graphic/video design work. If you're working in business, or even at most colleges, almost every platform is PC based. Our university doesn't offer a single class that uses the mac as its main platform (i don't believe even the graphic arts department uses them extensively/exclusively). Its really a mute point.

[KenC]

macs are used by something like 2% of the computing world. They look cool, but who cares what mac does unless all you do is graphic/video design work. If you're working in business, or even at most colleges, almost every platform is PC based. Our university doesn't offer a single class that uses the mac as its main platform (i don't believe even the graphic arts department uses them extensively/exclusively). Its really a mute point.

Actually the multimedia classes that you take here use Macs. Have you been to the lab in the basement of Klamath? They have a shit-ton of dope Macs.

*And I think you mean moot point. ;)

[AdironRider]

If anything I think this is going to help Apple out immensly. Their biggest problem has been that Macs just dont have the software availability that Windows machines do. With the switch to Intel processors, I cant see why anyone would want a windows machine. Macs are some of the most stable systems out there, and noone will have to deal with nasty popups and spyware. Well at least for a little bit.

[george graves]

There are a lot of fundumental differences between intel and motorola chips. Will the new mac run a P4 chip or such?

[Jon325i]

It will greatly reduce costs of computers as well, which is a huge plus. It better do the company good, I got $2k invested... :?

In the long run it should help....short term it may hurt them a bit with the diehards defecting. The main thing here is Apple wanting to get into more powerful yet efficient chips/processors as the trend in PCs and laptops continues in this direction. Apple's current chip supplier, IBM, could not meet the supply demand Apple wanted plus some of their processors (read: G5) generate a lot of heat which robs a system of peak performance.

I can't see how a different brand processor can so radically change the "Apple experience" when it comes to using one. As someone mentioned (and I read in today's SF Chronicle), the latest Mac OS has been designed to run on both types of processors for a while. When a reporter asked why this is, Steve Jobs said "just in case."

Jon

[Nathan]

Yes new macs will run P4 processors. Hmmm... I wonder what percentage of car owners own an e30. Probably more than the 2% that own an Apple but we're still a minority. Just becuase the whole world uses something doesn't make it awesome. AOHell is a great example. Anyway I don't want this thread to turn into a flame war. If you could care less what Apple is doing then don't post.

[Julien]

I'm pretty psyched about this... i can finally ditch the shitty hardware (read my g4 ibook) and run a PC laptop with an x86 version of os10. hopefully it will be available soon.. i'm tired of paying apple prices.


Julien